ralphjohns.co.uk/

Historical Document

These pages have sat here since 2008 with no update. In that time the AIM servers have been closed down (2017) and iChat has been superseded by Messages. That effectively make this a sort of Historical Document of how it worked.

I will make attempts to renew and refresh Links to either the most current site or use the Way Back Machine Archive so that people can at least look at what was used. I will make Edit Notes on this and on those where I can find no link to replace the older one as I go through the document.

iChat Windows

iChat In Pictures >> Your are in Folder 4_iChat WIndows >> Page: Add Buddy Account Type Selection

5[15]

5 Add Buddy Selecting Type

19-10-2008

From the previous Pop up at Picture 5 in this sequence this Slide out, from the top of the Buddy List, appears. This can be a bit of a surprise as you were at the bottom of the Buddy list a second ago.

In later versions you get to choose the two variants of the Apple Names for entering your Buddy under as well as the AIM one. In earlier versions of the OS you may not be able to run the MobileMe update to get the @me.com option shown in the expanded dropdown. If this is the case enter it under the AIM option and include the @me.com suffix.

The Slide list AIM and MobileMe but the expanded drop down shows @mac.com as well. This is because MobileMe was supposed to be a direct repalce for the .Mac (@mac.com) service so people could elect to keep their same ID/emails. Later Apple @mac.com IDs as free iChat Names with no other Apple account abilities.

From iChat 3 you have the option to run at least one Jabber list. You add Buddies the same way. However they also need to Authorise you (Agree for you to be their Buddy) before they are seen as On Line in your Buddy List. Having them as a Buddy in another List or have an email for them can help with timing the Request for them to respond (Agree/Authorise) to your request to be a Buddy.

In iChat 3 & above you get the choice to add a Buddy directly to a Group. This applies to JAbber as well as AIM lists.

Adding a "Real Name" is optional and adds the Buddy to the Address Book. They will be displayed as that name in the Buddy List. You can see showing beneath the Silde out I have a Buddy called Ronda (Level 4). If you leave it with just a Screen Name that is how they will appear in the Buddy List (As in various pics, appleu3test01 appears in mine).

Next:- Text Chat Window

Upward Arrow saying Top Top of page

Created with JAlbum 4.0.6

© 2005 Ralph Johns: Edited 24/9/2005, 5/5/2006
Updated September 2006
Updated October 2008. Reviewed and Updated to HTML 5 October 2024

Information Block

This site is about iChat from Version 1 through to iChat 5.x.x
Mostly this is kept as an Historical Document. Some small tense changes have been made but the content is by and large untouched.

It has a mixture of basic info and problem solving help.

The sections below will change for Specifics about info on the page on view

Options to This Page

To the right you can resize or colour the page as well as choose one of three Fonts.

About This Page

This is the slide out panel where you enter your Buddy's Name and choose what sort of Account type they have as shown by the expanded and highlighted dropdown items.

The Slide appears at the top of the List you have indicated by either using the + button at the bottom of the Buddy List or by having that Buddy List as "Front" when choosing the same option from the Buddies Menu.

It works the same for an AIM account Buddy List as it does for a Jabber one.

Compatibility

Much of this page has been altered to be as HTML 5 compatible as possible. This may cause issues with any of the Browser below.

I have tested in Safari 18.1, Firefox 130.x and 131.0, Vivaldi 6.9.3447.48 and iCab 6.2.3 (All Mac Browsers) I don't have access to a PC let alone multiple browsers to test on.

Previously confirmed to work with Win/IE 5.5 and later (should work in 5.0, but not confirmed), Firefox 2, Safari 3, Opera 9, iCab 3.02 and later, Mac/IE 5, Netscape 6 and later

Old browsers (IE version 4 or earlier, Netscape 4 or earlier) may only see a text-based page which, while not the prettiest option, is still entirely usable.